Additives for hydrocarbon fuels

ABSTRACT

An additive for hydrocarbon fuels such as propane, comprising active components including a hydrocarbon mixture in the range of approximately 60% to 76% by volume, and hydrotreated distillates in the range of approximately 10% to 16% by volume.

[0001] The present utility patent application is based on and claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/288,812filed on May 4, 2001.

[0002] The present invention relates generally to certain new and usefulimprovements in additives for hydrocarbon fuels such as LPG, gasolineand diesel fuel.

[0003] More particularly, the present invention relates to improvedadditives for hydrocarbon fuels, wherein the additives include apredetermined amount of a predetermined hydrocarbon mixture, apredetermined amount of predetermined hydrotreated distillates, and ablend of vapor phase inhibitors.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0004] Liquified petroleum gases (LPG), which are primarily comprised ofpropane and butane, are widely used as engine fuels. These products areobtained from natural gas and crude oil processing operations and aregenerally classified as LPG, propane, butane, and butane-propanemixtures in accordance with specifications published by the GasProcessors Association.

[0005] The relevant art concerning additives for LPG fuels isexemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,936 and applicant's prior U.S. Pat.No.. 5,823,758.

[0006] It is a desideratum of the present invention to avoid theanimadversions of previous additives.

[0007] More particularly, the present invention achieves the objects andpurposes of applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,823,758 but without theuse of metal oxide catalysts, and yet accomplishes same while avoidingand/or minimizing precipitating out of any components.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides new and improved additives forhydrocarbon fuels, comprising active components including a hydrocarbonmixture in the range of approximately 60% to 76% by volume, hydrotreateddistillates in the range of approximately 10% to 16% by volume, at leastone predetermined vapor phase inhibitor, and at least one predeterminedsurfactant.

[0009] One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provideimproved additives as described hereinabove which permit substantiallycomplete oxidation of the hydrocarbon fuels to be achieved even when thehydrocarbon fuels contains significant quantities of impurities such assulfur, water, propylene, long chain hydrocarbons, etc.

[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide improvedadditives as described hereinabove which substantially reduce oreliminate polluting emissions normally caused by incomplete oxidation,while simultaneously reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide improvedadditives as described hereinabove which minimizes and/or avoids anysettling out or precipitating out of any substances and/or components.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provideimproved additives as described hereinabove which accomplishes theaforementioned objects without the use of metal oxide catalysts.

[0013] Another object of the present invention is to provide improvedadditives as described hereinabove which increase heating value aftervaporization.

[0014] Another object of the present invention is to provide improvedadditives as described hereinabove which increase burning velocity inoxygen.

[0015] Another object of the present invention is to provide improvedadditives as described hereinabove which provide an exothermic formationreaction to accommodate efficiencies of primary and secondarycombustion.

[0016] The present invention possesses many advantages and featureswhich will become more apparent to those persons skilled in this area oftechnology and others when reading the detailed description of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention as set forth hereinbelow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0017] In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided an additive for hydrocarbon fuels,comprising active components including a hydrocarbon mixture in therange of approximately 60% to 76% by volume, and hydrotreateddistillates in the range of approximately 10% to 16% by volume, at leastone predetermined vapor phase inhibitor, and at least one predeterminedsurfactant.

[0018] Preferably, but not necessarily, the additive may include thefollowing active components: hydrocarbon mixture; hydrotreateddistillates; petroleum amines; aromatic hydrocarbon; and vapor phaseinhibitors.

[0019] In accordance with some preferred embodiments of the presentinvention, the improved additive would include the following activecomponents: hydrocarbon mixture 6 0% to 76% by volume; hydrotreateddistillates 10% to 16% by volume; petroleum amines 5% to 8% by volume;aromatic hydrocarbon 5% to 8% by volume; vapor phase inhibitors 1% to 3%by volume; anionic and ionic surfactants 0.5% to 1.0% by volume; andN-docdecyl-8-D-lauryl maltoside 0.2% to 1.0% by volume.

[0020] The aforementioned hydrocarbon mixture may preferably compriseany suitable hydrocarbon mixture, such as, for example, petroleumdistillates.

[0021] The aforementioned hydrotreated distillates may preferablycomprise any suitable hydrotreated distillates, such as, for example,magnesium lauryl sulfate.

[0022] The aforementioned petroleum amines may preferably comprise anysuitable petroleum amines such as, for example, amine phosphates, orsodium lauryl sulfate.

[0023] The aforementioned aromatic hydrocarbon may preferably compriseany suitable aromatic hydrocarbon, such as, for example, a high K-B(Kari-Butyl) solvent, like Terpines.

[0024] The aforementioned vapor phase inhibitors may preferably compriseany suitable vapor phase inhibitors, such as, for example, fatty acidsor organic acids.

[0025] The anionic and ionic surfactants are incorporated to absorband/or pass through moisture and fuel impurities.

[0026] The N-docdecyl-8-D-lauryl maltoside is incorporated to displacemembrane lipids from the gas/impurities.

[0027] The additives in accordance with the present invention providehydrophobic tail structures for rapid vaporization.

[0028] Although the additives in accordance with present invention maybe effectively used with any hydrocarbon fuel, the present invention isparticularly suitable as an additive for LPG.

[0029] There have described hereinabove only certain preferredembodiments of the present invention which can be formulated in manydifferent ways.. It should be understood that many changes,modifications, variations, and other uses and applications will becomeapparent to those persons skilled in this particular area of technologyand to others after having been exposed to the present patentapplications.

[0030] Any and all such changes, modifications, variations, and otheruses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention are therefore covered by and embraced within thescope of the patent claims set forth hereinbelow.

1. An additive for hydrocarbon fuels, comprising: active componentsincluding: a hydrocarbon mixture in the range of approximately 60% to76% by volume; hydrotreated distillates in the range of approximately10% to 16% by volume; at least one predetermined vapor phase inhibitor;and at least one predetermined surfactant.
 2. The additive of claim 1,wherein: said active components also include petroleum amines.
 3. Theadditive of claim 1, wherein: said active components also include atleast one aromatic hydrocarbon.
 4. The additive of claim 2, wherein:said active components also include at least one aromatic hydrocarbon.5. The additive of claim 1, wherein: said active components include ablend of vapor phase inhibitors.
 6. The additive of claim 2, wherein:said active components include a blend of vapor phase inhibitors.
 7. Theadditive of claim 3, wherein: said active components include a blend ofvapor phase inhibitors.
 8. The additive of claim 4, wherein: said activecomponents include a blend of vapor phase inhibitors.
 9. The additive ofclaim 1, wherein: said active components include anionic and ionicsurfactants.
 10. The additive of claim 2, wherein: said activecomponents include anionic and ionic surfactants.
 11. The additive ofclaim 3, wherein: said active components include anionic and ionicsurfactants.
 12. The additive of claim 4, wherein: said activecomponents include anionic and ionic surfactants.
 13. The additive ofclaim 5, wherein: said active components include anionic and ionicsurfactants.
 14. The additive of claim 6, wherein: said activecomponents include anionic and ionic surfactants.
 15. The additive ofclaim 7, wherein: said active components include anionic and ionicsurfactants.
 16. The additive of claim 8, wherein: said activecomponents include anionic and ionic surfactants.
 17. The additive ofclaim 2, wherein: said petroleum amines are included in the range ofapproximately 5% to 8% by volume.
 18. The additive of claim 4, wherein:said petroleum amines are included in the range of approximately 5% to8% by volume.
 19. The additive of claim 6, wherein: said petroleumamines are included in the range of approximately 5% to 8% by volume.20. The additive of claim 8, wherein: said petroleum amines are includedin the range of approximately 5% to 8% by volume.